1. What’s new and exciting with Ryan James?

My wife is nearly six months pregnant. How’s that for new and exciting? (laughs)

2. You are known as one of the nicest guys in this scene. How does it feel to be held in such high regard by your peers? And who do you look up to as a source of inspiration and humility?

I generally really like being around other people. It’s nice to know that some people don’t mind when I talk their ears off. I’m not inspired to be humble; I just like people. Really, I wouldn’t consider myself a humble person. Ted Turner said it best, “If I only had a little humility, I'd be perfect.”




3. Name association:

-Ryan Turner: Knows me too well!
-Wade Bowen: Makes incredible music.
-Josh Grider: Always believable and sincere.
-Drew Kennedy: Is the storyteller.
-Jason Eady: One of the smartest people I’ve ever known.
-Adam Hood: Gotta a lotta soul for a white guy...or any color for that matter!
-Mike Eli: Will never know how appreciative I am.
-Cory Morrow: Has always been a great friend.
-Jason Boland: An old soul.
-Walt Wilkins: Lives for his family.



4. At an early age, you made the distinction between the stuff you heard on the radio and the type of music being made by Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. Most people don’t realize until much later what a big musical world is out there. How do you think this early realization fostered your sound and style?

The truth is that I didn’t discover REK until my early college years, and I listened to Lyle because my mom did when I was a kid...although, I love him now I must say. I was a big Pat Green fan in the mid to late 90’s when Pat and Cory were starting to gain success. That music was incredibly infectious then because it was so different and uniquely commercial. From there, I started listening to everything in the newly discovered genre. Stuff like Ragweed, The Great Divide, Reckless, Cooder Graw, Phil Pritchett, Cory...and, to this day, I continue to find new unique music every week that deeply affects my songwriting. It’s overwhelming in a real good way.

5. You realized the potential of digital media early on in your career. Your MySpace and other outlets are loaded with juicy info and your personal blogs. What made you decide to take this approach? Why don’t you think more artists do things this way?

I’m always shooting for three things really. One, get as much information to people as they could possibly want. Two, do it in a way that looks good. And, three really involve friends and fans in the whole musical process. I’m sure other artists do this stuff because that’s where I get a lot of my ideas. If they don’t, they’re probably intensely focused on the process of music-making exclusively.

6. The start of your career had the traditional slow burn. Now, radio is beginning to embrace your songs, promoters are beginning to fill up your schedule, and your fanbase is continually growing. I think there is some benefit to layering your career growth in this way. Are you glad things have happened organically like this?

My start in music was relatively out of focus. Over the years, I’ve slowly tried to improve my art and my business. Each step, each failure, and each success is a learning experience I wouldn’t trade. I’m truly fortunate for the life I have.



7. Favorite touring memory of the following towns and clubs:

-Austin: Home...it’s always an easy night in Austin.
-Dallas: Firewater with Cory Morrow…sold out and a really fun crowd.
-Lubbock: It’s where I got my start in bars...The Blue Light as a matter of fact.
-San Marcos: Kent Finlay at Cheatham St. has always treated me like a real friend.
-Stephenville: Some tough nights in Stephenville…We’ve really had to earn those fans there.
-Ft. Worth: Home away from home. Radio up there is always pulling for me.
-Houston: Firehouse Saloon with Billy Joe Shaver – it was truly a great memory.
-Huntsville: George at the Jolly Fox. He takes good care of musicians.
-Wichita Falls: Disco dancing with the Ryan Turner band after hours…you had to be there.
-New Braunfels: We’d float the river, do what you do while you float, and play Gruene Hall sun burned and snookered. You can’t beat that!
-Oklahoma City: We opened for Fowler at The Wormy Dog and there was a big fight right in front of me. One guy dropped a bottle from the second floor onto another guy’s head on the first floor. It wasn’t pretty. When the bottle-dropper tried to apologize, the other fella’ hit him square in the jaw. Not cool.
-San Antonio: Floore’s with the Eli Young Band. We felt like rock stars!

8. Your family is heavily involved in your career, and your dad is well-known around the scene. Can you describe what it’s like working so closely with your family? What are the benefits and the disadvantages of constantly having them around?

I couldn’t do this without the help of my family. They’ve devoted so much time, money, and heart to this whole process. It’s not my career so much as our career. I think the only real disadvantage is that I’m afraid of letting them down. I know I can’t, but I still want validation for everyone. I think that would make me happy.

9. In addition to your strong voice, you were somewhat of a musical prodigy, mastering a number of instruments at an early age. What all can you play? What is your favorite to play? What is the hardest thing to play?

I never considered myself anything close to a musical prodigy because I’ve had to work really hard at my craft. Truth be told, the process has been anything but easy.
I started off at a real early age playing "Five Foot Two" on the piano with my Grandma. I started writing songs on the piano around 6th grade. That’s also about the time I started playing drums. I’ve always thought drums were my strongest instrument. I picked up a guitar my freshman year at Texas Tech and was taught a lot by my roommate Kirk Sears. I think they’re all pretty tough instruments; at least for me they are. I’d say the guitar is especially a constant learning process for me though.



10. Story behind the following songs:

-Are You With Me?- This is just a great Paul Thorn song. I knew I had to record it after I heard it once.
-Goodbye Carolina-I don’t remember writing the lyrics to this one. I found it in an old spiral notebook, added music and have played it ever since. This is my favorite song to play live.
-I Should’ve Broke You Heart- I’ve been on both ends of a break up where one person is hurt and the other is not. It sucks to hurt and watch the other person move on like the relationship never happened.
-She’s Always Leavin’- Keith Gattis is the best at writing the rocking tunes. This one was a song that Walt Wilkins and Keith wrote. Walt pitched it to me before we recorded, and I instantly saw it being a part of my show.
-How Long: This is the oldest song of my two records. I didn’t want this on the record originally but Walt heard something I didn’t. It really came out much better than I ever envisioned it could. It’s even fun to play now.
-Just Keep Driving- Walt gave me a demo to listen to for my second record. This song stuck out to me in a big way. I love the strange chords and hooky chorus. It just felt like something I’d sing.
-Take Your Time- I wrote this one with my old friend Waylon Pierce. The song was our attempt at writing a tongue-in-cheek tune with big harmony vocal parts. This is always a real swampy, get-nasty part of the show that I love.
-Home To Texas- I wrote a good majority of this song when I was on my Pat Green kick. I really wanted to have my own "Texas on my Mind", props to Django... I never got the chorus and 2nd verse exactly right, so Walt helped me finish this one. It’s become one of our crowd-pleasers.
-Waves- I’ve wept listening to Sam Baker sing this song. He is a true poet and I just wanted to pay homage to a great songwriter who has meant a lot to me artistically. I aspire to this type of songwriting.
-Get Busy Living- I stole the line from the movie Shawshank Redemption, which is one of my favorite movies. I’ve always thought it important to keep looking forward. You’re either living or you dying and you can’t be concerned with what the world thinks.


11. During a bout of homesickness in North Carolina, you got a rather large tattoo of the Texas flag on your left shoulder blade. Have you added any to your collection since then? And, if there had been a television production crew there that night for a show like Miami Ink, what would we have learned about Ryan James?

No new ones yet. Lindsey, my wife, got a huge tattoo on her left shoulder blade about three months ago. I posted the process on YouTube. I’m really wanting to add to my collection, but haven’t come up with the one great design yet. I was thinking of a Shel Silverstein drawing. Don’t know yet though. I'll keep y'all posted!

12. What is the best part of being a professional musician? Aside from missing home, what is the worst part of the business?

The best part is the perspectives I’ve gained. I’ve really gotten to know our small chunk of the world well. I hear great stories, I see miles of Texas, and I’m constantly looking forward to the next show.

The worst for me is that I can’t ever complain. My wife is a nurse in labor and delivery for crying out loud! What can I say when we have a bad night? “They didn’t give us beer tonight, Honey.” She replies, “Oh yeah? We lost a baby.” And we’re back to perspective: My job is ultimately not worth worrying about – I know exactly how good I have it.



13. Starting out in music, every artist has to deal with many setbacks. What has been the biggest struggle you’ve faced in launching your career?

I have good days and bad days. I’m confident things will always get better. Not necessarily because I’m that good, but rather because I will keep doing this until the day I die. I really feel like, with all the support I’ve had, that I have it relatively easy. I’m here, patiently waiting for the bars to fill and crowds to sing along. I think, one day, we’ll all be singing together.

14. Driving up and down the road to gigs, I’m sure you’ve seen your share of crazy and unbelievable things. What has been the most odd or surreal thing you’ve witnessed out on the road?

My great friend and former guitar player, Cale Richardson, likes to dance to Dwight Yoakum. When he hears Dwight’s music, he instantly flails around in some bizarre dance interpretation. After a show in Wichita Falls with the Ryan Turner band, a Dwight song came on the PA and Cale was the only person on the dance floor. It was truly inspiring. So, the rest of our band and the Turner band joined in. It was a strange "Alice in Wonderland" kind of moment. Wheat Bailey, from the RT band, was skating around the dance floor with a broom. I think I was doing the robot.
Yeah…it was that strange. I could go on, but I’ll spare you the, “You had to be there,” ending. (laughs)

15. You once claimed you were as influenced by the awful albums you’ve heard as you were the great ones. What are the top 3 “bad” album influences? And what are the top 3 good?

I’d hate to rattle off bad albums, but there is music that I really like that some people are surprised by. For example: Cyndi Lauper, Keith Urban, Queen, Alan Parson Project, Elton John. I don’t know, maybe I’m exaggerating – those people put out insanely great music.

The really good stuff is easy: Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Hank, Cash, Willie, Merle, Waylon, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Tom Petty, The Boss, The Band…I could go on for years.


16. You are one of those artists that is kind of stuck in that gray area between country, Texas, and Americana. Do you feel that with Directed you’ve helped define your sound more? And, are you feeling more welcomed by the communities at large?

Directed is musically worlds apart from Back to the Wind, and the stuff I’m writing now is nowhere near either of those two albums. I do think it’s somewhat confusing for the audience, but I think we’re still in the acquaintance part of our fan/artist relationship. We’re still feeling each other out. The fans I’ve met along the way have become friends, and I feel like every show we’ve gotten more and more friends coming out. It’s been very good I think.

17. When you first hit the scene you had long hair, and now you sport a much shorter look. What was behind the change: your wife, a marketing decision or were you just tired of it?

I saw a photo of me taken by my talented photographer friend Tessa that was just awful. My hair was huge, and I mean huge! I grew it out originally because I’ve always wanted to do it once in my lifetime. I tried it and didn’t like it, so I’m back to plain ol' short-hair. Surprisingly, my wife couldn't really care less.



18. Rapid fire:

-Worst driver in your band? Me
-Favorite convenience store treat? PowerBar Triple Threat or Capp’s Hot Fries.
-It’s 3AM…Whataburger, Taco C or a truck stop? Whataburger

19. Now, it's time for our very own musical taste barometer. What is your favorite George Strait song?

Just One? Not possible! "Marina Del Rey", "I Can Still Make Cheyenne", "Drinking Champagne", "The Chair"...and so many more!

20. What do you feel are the major differences between the music you and your peers are creating, and that of the mainstream?

I think the only thing that makes music truly mainstream – or not – is the number of people listening. In my opinion, on a large scale people listen because it’s good, and it’s that simple. I’m saying that Texas music is mainstream sometimes.
I think some of the records in our scene like Wade’s Lost Hotel or Eli Young Band’s Level are great examples of mainstream Texas music. That’s also why Pat, Randy, Ragweed, Fowler, Jack, and all those guys have done so well outside of Texas. They’re Texan through and through, they have commercial sensibility, and they’re masters of songwriting and performing. That’s pretty damn rare.